THE BEST OF ME

Chapter 10: UNDERSTANDINGS

Note:

You know writing this fanfic was kinda weird at first because this isn't Remus from the Canon Universe, but another Remus in an alternative world where he lived in this era not the Marauders.

Although, despite not being used to it...it's really fun. Also, the reason I chose Remus and Tonks to be the same age as Bill is, because their relationship has this click when I imagined them. Also, I like Bill and I think that he and Remus can be good friends, same with Tonks. The three of them has these right chemistry that I can't explain, so they'll be great friends.

Previously:

"That enchanted door prank will be a buzz!" Tonks exclaimed, but her voice was suppressed by her laughs. Bill who was with them gave a quiet cackle and Remus shook his head in amusement at the displayed gaiety of his friends' laughter.

In the early evening, Tonks showed the two Gryffindor boys a package of enchantment tags. She explained that his father's foreigner coworker gave it to him, as an early Christmas present; not knowing what to do with them, her father send it to her.

Oh, Mr. Tonks didn't know what he just released.

"..."

"Fine, I'll go with you."

"..."

"Are you sure?" She asked staring intently at him and he nods with gritted teeth.

"..."

"Woman, how many times do I have to say yes, for you to understand that I had joined your little side quest."

"..."

A satisfied smirk was drawn on his lips when the Weasley understood his message. Slowly, but surely, he turned his gaze back to Tonks, his features relaxing a little bit, as he adress her.

"Let's discuss pros and cons."

"..."

They were walking down the stairs when Remus heard it...a voice, calling out to him, slowly whispering his name; each syllables echoing, making him shiver. Turning his head, he tried to seek out those whispers, but they quickly seized.

"What the—" But, before he could finished his sentence, something grabbed him. His eyes widened at the black long fingers that wrapped their selves around him. He begun calling for help, as he struggles in the binds. He searched for his friends; only to not find them there.

"..."

"Remus..."

"..."

"Remus!" His eyes widened at the familiar voice that wasn't his brother's. Looking down, he saw Tonks shaking him and Bill standing behind her. Both kids were wearing a worried look on their faces, but the girl in front of him stare anxiously at him. Her grip tightened on his shoulders before pulling him in a hug.

"..."

"Are you sure that you'll be fine on your own, Tonks?" At his question the young Hufflepuff girl smiled at him, "Oh, does Remus Lupin wants to be my escort." She teased and something in him wanted to answer yes, but he remained quiet.

Seeing that he wasn't responding to her tease, she quickly spoke. "It's okay, Remus, I have my invisibility cloak with me..." She trailed off, biting down on her lower lip. "Is it me who should be asking that, Remus."

"..."

He quirked an eyebrow at her, "What do you mean?"

"..."

"That you'll be fine?" She blurted out with a straight face, leaving him speechless and flustered.

"..."

He turned to his roommate who was already up and opening his presents, but before he could rip the red wrapping, he turned his gaze first at the young werewolf. "Open my present first, Remus." He stated bluntly before grinning, "And marry Christmas!"

"..."

Then, he paused at the present that was from Tonks, so slowly he opened it. It was a book, but when he opened it, all the pages were blank and when he turned the book upside down, a bookmark fell from the pages.

"..."

He picked it up and the scent of lupines where present on the paper. Although, what surprise him was the picture on the bookmark, it's a wolf. Dread filled him, but before he could jump to the clouds, he saw something written on the paper.

"..."

"I am a wolf:

It is in my nature to be kind, gentle. and loving.

My loyalty is everlasting and my strength is endless.

When it comes to matters of protecting my friends, my family and my heart.

Do not triffle with me, for I am the most powerful and relentless creature that you will ever face.

Let the wolves run free!"

"..."

As soon as Bill and him entered the hall, he saw Tonks waving cheerfully at them. "Wotcher! Marry Christmas, guys!" She greeted them with a jolly smile.

"..."

"But, why a wolf? Aren't they beasts? especially a monster?"

"..."

He expected disgust from her, but he had received a understanding; at the same time disappointed. "Wolves aren't beasts, they're kind, gentle and loving creatures." She explained, "They're loyal too, so what makes these beautiful creatures a monster?"

"..."

Remus gaped at her, "How would you know that?"

"..."

She held him tighter, "Because one had saved me." She simply answered before pulling away and a soft smile appeared on her face, "Come on, let's dine in!"

"..."

At the background, he heard Professor Dumbledore announcing, "Merry Christmas, young students! Have a jolly holiday"

"..."

At his two friends' joyful faces, a smile made its way on his lips,'Jolly indeed.'

Christmas and New year went by in a blink and spring came by soon after. The snow in the school grounds melted away and the plants had started dancing happily under the sun's light again, bringing cheer and life to the cold scenery. Little by little Hogwarts was coming back to life once more after a brief period of ice and loneliness.

In one of the halls of the school, two boys can be seen walking with stacks of paper in their arms. "Can Professor Flitwick just transport this papers to Professor McGonagall by spell?" Remus' redhead friend complained for the fifth time.

The young werewolf rolled his eyes at the other boy's small tantrum, "Maybe they're teaching us, that we shouldn't rely more on magical, but with our own strengths and capabilities." He shrugged and the Weasley responds with a irksome groan.

"Don't say that, Remus," He sighed, "Look at this!" He pushed out his arms and Remus raised any eyebrow at him, "Can this noodle arms lift this heavy stacks of papers!?" He questioned loudly, "I'm clearly not sure, how the bloody hell are they still intact to my body!"

Remus was a little narked at his friend's dramatic attitude, he doesn't know if he should be amused, annoyed or passive. Can he just mix all of them? Sighing, he flashed his friend a lopsided grin; although, the corner of his lips and his right eyebrow were twitching.

"You're exaggerating much, Williams." He scoffed while fixing up the papers that he was holding a little bit, "Besides were almost there."

The redhead shut his mouth at his statement; although, this is Bill, he can't keep quiet for at least a minute. "I heard Professor McGonagall is gonna announce something at lunch." The Weasley shared and this peak the young werewolf's curiosity. "Really?"

At his word, the young boy gave him a nod. Suddenly, a grin appeared on the Weasley's face, "Look, Remus, we're here!" He announced enthusiastically; then, he picked up his pace and Remus followed along, but much slower than him. When they made it to the front door of their Transfiguration professor's office, Remus quickly knockef. With his heightened hearing, he heard the click of heels on the hard floor plus a soft crash which made him arched up his eyebrows in confusion.

The door swings opened and on the other side was their female professor who's always cladded in green robes and a hat on the top of her head. Her stern eyes stared at the two boys below her, "What's your business here Mr. Lupin and Mr. Weasley?" She asked and the uoung werewolf quickly showed the stack of papers that he's been carrying all day.

"Professor Flitwick had send us here to give this papers to you, professor." He explained with a straight face; although, it broke when he spotted Tonks behind their teacher. The young Hufflepuff girl was sitting up, her face half hidden by the chair; also, her hood was down and he was staring at the color copper red...wait what? He blinked; then, her hood was up again, but he had took a little glimpse on her hair before she had pulled her hood fully up.

It was mousy brown her original hair color that he saw on their first meeting...but earlier he saw copper red. What's going on? Shaking his head, he thought that he's getting delusional lately since the full moon was close.

For, now, he'll get back later on that logical part of his brain that has been nagging him that there's an explanation for Tonks' weird hair that changes color. But, for now, he'll play, as an ignorant prat because if she's really hiding something, she has the right who to tell her secret.

'Funny, that's the advice, we always use, but we're a coward to do it.' His conscience laughed in his head; which he frown upon. Shaking his head once again, he saw Tonks smiling at him and he happily returned it. He flashed her a sloppy grin before turning back to their teacher, "Where can we put this, professor?" He questioned her.

"You may placed those papers over there, on my table." She twisted her neck a little bit to point at a table that was at a corner.

Both boys quickly obliged on their professor's request, the two of them passed Tonks who followed them with her eyes. While placing the stack of papers, Remus heard the shuffling of shoes; then, her voice saying, "Thank you, professor."

He was surprised that the old witch smiled softly at the young Hufflepuff girl. "Same time at Tuesday, Miss. Tonks." Professor McGonagall told her and the sternness in her voice is back, but there's fondness present in it.

The hooded girl nodded, "Yes, professor."

She was about to leave when the old witch added in, "Also, stay out of trouble."

Remus saw the young girl smiling mischievously, "I can't promise that," She laughed and the young werewolf heard the sound of a door closing, indicating that the young Hufflepuff had left the room. He turned to Bill who wear a relief look on his face before turning back to their teacher, "We'll be leaving now, professor." He stated and the old witch gave them a curt nod.

"You may be excuse." She said, "Oh don't be late in lunch, boys. I'll be announcing something important later."

"Yes," Both him and Bill said at the same time. Remus politely nods at her before he and his redhead friend left the room. When both boys turned around a corner, they both found Tonks sitting at the stairs with her chin resting on her right hand while her left hand was petting a cat.

"Waiting for us, Nymphadora?" Remus said with a grin which the young girl gave him a glare. "Nope, just got distracted with this handsome fella." She pointed at the tabby cat who kept pressing its head on her right leg.

The young werewolf's grin faltered, he glared at the tabby cat who pointedly ignored him. He frowned; then, let out a quiet wolfish growl. He was glad that nobody heard him; although, a smirk came upon his face when the cat hissed at him before scurrying away.

"Oh," Tonks quirked her right eyebrow, "Was Sir. Whiskers in a hurry?"

Bill stifled his laughter with his hand, "Sir. Whiskers, really?" He snorted, but seconds later, he was rubbing his arm. "Why do you have to be so violent." He stated and Tonks rolled her eyes, "I didn't hit you too hard." She probbed him before turning to the auburn haired boy who had been watching them quarrel for the last few minutes while at the same time an amused grin was present on his face.

"Oh, by the way...what were the two of you doing in Professor McGonagall's office earlier with those stack of papers?" At her question, he realized something. The real question is, 'What was she she doing in the professor's office earlier?'

First thing, first, it couldn't be detention since he recalled the old witch informing Tonks about meeting up in her office at Tuesday. He would know if he just asked the girl, but it's her own privacy...

He turned his head towards his friends. The redhead boy was complaining about their task earlier that was ordered by their professor in charms, "Why couldn't he just used a spell to teleport it!"

The Hufflepuff nodded at him, "You have a point there..."

Bill begun to kick up a fuss about the teacher abusing their power; then, their professor in potions got involved in the conversation. It was clear on the girl's heart shaped face that she was rapt in their friendly chat. Sighing, he just couldn't bring himself to ask her.

He was maybe too lost in his thoughts that he didn't registered somebody grabbing his hand. His first instinct was to flinch, but the warmth surrounding his hand was familiar and his nose had picked up that well known smell of jasmine. He lifted his chin up a little bit to see Tonks smiling at him.

"A penny to your thoughts?" She whispered; her stormy gray eyes staring softly at his own forest green orbs. Then, he saw a green glimmer passing her eyes and when he closed his eyes for a second it was gone. Realizing, that he hadn't answered her question, Remus shook his head; then, bit his lower lip.

The girl's face was passive, for a second before her soft—'wait...what?!'—pink lips took shape; now on her face was a cheeky grin. "Mind if, I steal you for a couple of hours?" She asked him and before he could answer, the young girl turned to their redhead friend.

"Hey Bill, mind if I steal Remus from you for a couple of hours?" The young werewolf stared at the Weasley, waiting for his answer. Bill shrugged his shoulders, "Sure, whatever you want, Tonks." He told her while crossing his arms behind his head, "I'm just gonna take a nap first, so we'll meet up in about a quarter past eleven at the great hall."

He let out a loud yawn and he covered it with his right hand while his left hand gave them a wave of goodbye. "See you, Remus and Tonks take care of him." With that the redhead swung his whole body around, pivoting on his heel. The other two eleven years old watched their friend's back walking away until he was gone when the redhead turned right.

Remus felt Tonks gave his hand a comforting squeeze, he turned to her and the cheeky grin was still there on her face.

"Come on, let's go." Before he could ask her what she was doing, the young Hufflepuff begun to walk, and since his hand was in hers, he too has to follow along her strides.

The young werewolf looked at their link hands for a second before letting his gaze go up to Tonks' face, "Where are we going?" He asked, clearly quite puzzled by the girl's action.

They passed by a lot of hallways and went up to different floors, Remus starts to think that Tonks knew were she was going because even if the castle's stairs would shift somewhere else, she precisely knew on where to go. They reached the seventh floor and Remus came face to face with the Tapestry of Barnabas The Barm. He raised both his brows, quizzical on what they were doing here.

He then saw the hooded girl closing her eyes and she begun to mutter something quietly under her breath. Although, her voice was a little hushed, he could still hear her and the words he got from her was, "Need...private...to..."

She finished speaking and Remus was about to ask her what she was doing when a door suddenly appear out of who knows where. The young girl's lips curled up in to a grin and he was clearly sure that her eyes had a waggish glint. Without saying anything, she pulled the door open and both if them entered the room.

The young werewolf widened his eyes at the medium sized room, it wasn't grand or anything, but it was cozy nonetheless. There was a chandelier on the ceiling, candels were lit and the flickering flames lit up the room just the way he likes it. There's also a green round couch and a round coffee table.

Tonks led him to the couch and both of them sat down; he was quite disappointed when the young girl let go of his hands. Both of them didn't said any word for the past fifteen seconds that they have been here. Sighing, he take the initiative to start their conversation, "When did you find this plae..."

He heard the sarcastic part of his brain giving him a series of slow claps, 'Way to go, Remus! What a great way to start a conversation.'

He huffed in his head, but he swiftly turned his head back to the other person who was in the room with him. "Well," She begun, meeting his gaze first before choosing to stare at a ceiling, "It all started when Ceasar and his goons were chasing me last month—" He abruptly interrupted her when he heard her statement, "They did what!?" He shouted, quite frustrated that he wasn't there, "When did this happened, why am I not informed?" He asked and the young girl sheepishly scratched her right cheek with her index finger.

"It's okay, Remus...don't bother yourself about this," She tried to reassured him, but it wasn't quite helping. "Besides you were in the infirmary when that happened, so don't worry about that...please."

He sighed and nodded, but he won't forgive those Slytherins for bullying his friend. Sighing, he'll let go of their not so right actions for now. What's going on with him anyway, he's quite conservative when dealing this kind of problems. He wouldn't act harshly, but it looks like having people you care about changed his way of thinking.

He turned his attention back to Tonks who was almost telling the end of her story, "When, I tried to hide from them, a door suddenly appeared, so without thinking, I quickly hid there and that's my tale of how I found this Room of Requirements." She grinned widely.

"What exactly is your purpose for bringing me here?" He asked her bluntly; straight to the point.

The girl raised her eyebrow, "Can't friends just hang out—" She joked, but seeing his serious face must have changed her mind, "For the past week, you were feeling quite down and I also notice that you're a little paler than before..." She trailed off and Remus flinched thinking that she knows; however, she proved him wrong when she spoke again, "And you've been spacing a lot since you received that bookmark, I gave you...tell me Remus, what do you think of my gift?"

His eyes widened at her question and it went larger at her next words, "Remus, I care for you, so tell me what's bothering you." She pleaded before sighing, "I know it's your decision or not to tell me what's wrong, but I'm worried about you."

A growl escaped his thoughts, 'You're the one who's bothering me.' It didn't ease his mind that the girl always pester him, joke around with him and be close with him...so much. His overwhelmed by her kindness, the way she understands him, her warmth, her sadness and last but the least...her self. It was too much, he wasn't ready for this level of friendship. Hanging out and joking around is what friends do, right? So, why are they trying so hard to get close to him, a werewolf!

He's dangerous, why can't she see that! Why can't everybody see that! He even have the scars to prove how a beast he is! So why is he feeling this way? Shouldn't he be happy that he has friends, but why the bloody hell it is the opposite! What is he afraid of...

"No, I don't like the quote." He whispered, but it was loud enough for the young girl to hear. "Wolves aren't gentle, kind or any off those! They're beast, monsters and a outcast in society! What's the reason for them to be free if they're gonna bite and kill other people too!"

He didn't mean to shout especially at her. Remus felt her flinched besides him and he was to afraid to look at her now. Despite feeling guilty, he has mix feelings about what he did. He was happy that he had let it all out, but he felt dreadful that she might connect the pieces and know that he's a werewolf, and finally anger to himself, for being foolish.

Then, he felt her got up and mustering up all his Gryffindor courage, he turned to her and saw her pulled out a book from one of the shelves on the side. It was clearly a muggle book and Remus raised an eyebrow at that.

"Ah...they don't know what they're missing…" Tonks chuckled, "Some of these are nice…"

Remus was confused, "What are you saying?"

The girl just smiled at him, "Have you ever read the Fairytales by the Grimm Brothers? You know my dad always read them to me every time." He frowned, seeing that he didn't answer his question, but sadness came over him at the familiar book.

"I have...my mother and brother would read them to me sometimes." He choked, trying to hold on his cries. He'll be looking pathetic if he cried and the walls he built around him will break down if that happens. He heard her chuckle, making him look up, "It's quite funny that most of are tastes in book are the same." She said softly while her fingers traced the cover of the book, "It's quite sad that the wolf is always the bad guy."

He let out a breath and shook his head, "They really are...especially if you're a werewolf." His last couple of word were more quiet since he doesn't want to expose his self. His words were bitter, but it's true, so it doesn't bother him.

"Wolves...werewolves…" She replied, as if it didn't matter, her hand begun caressing the books on the shelves while the other put the book she pulled out before back to its place, "What's wrong with that? Werewolves are not any less human…" Lupin seemed confused at her words before his eyes widened, realizing that she had heard him. However, he looks at her thinking, 'Why isn't she scared?'

She wasn't done talking, "Wolves or werewolf aren't monsters! They just follow their instincts just like any animals."

"Why would you say that!" He said, his voice getting a little louder. "Have you met any wolves or werewolves, for you to decide that they aren't beast..."

He bowed down his head in shame, knowing that it's all true that he is a beast, a monster. "And do you know any?"

Lupin heard her asking him, but he chose not to answer. He was afraid of how she'd react if he told her the truth, and it seems Tonks took his silence as a no.

"See? Maybe if people stopped for a bit and tried to know them, understand them, they'd see that they aren't the demons they think they are…"

"How would you know?" He cut her off again, his tone bitter and he felt the mad beast within reciprocating to his anger. The full moon is near and his temper got the best of him. Why is he yelling at her? They aren't fighting, she was trying to talk to him, calm him and...

"Last Christmas, I told you that I was saved by a wolf." She explained and Remus remembered her saying that; it never escaped his mind that he should know more about this beast. Then, she continued, "However, something is bugging me...our talk is all about wolves, but it led to us talking about werewolves."

He flinched, seeing that she realized it. 'She knows.' He gritted his teeth and tightly closed his eyes waiting, for the fear and disgust in her face, but it never came. He opened his eyes and blink. Remus turned to the young Hufflepuff who was now in front of him and before he could open his mouth, the young girl wrapped her arms around his chest.

She placed her head near his beating heart and sighed, "Look, I don't know what's going on, Remus. You're clear distaste for wolves, I don't understand but let me tell you something..." She pursed her lips before sighing again, "We'll always be there, your friends...Bill, Hagrid and Skips, they'll be always there."

He sat there shock, had she red his mind? He felt his lips trembling, "But why, for all this trouble. Why are you guys still here, why are you especially you, trying so hard. I don't deserve any of this..." He begun to sob, tears begun dripping down his face.

"You know, Bill asked me to take care of you because he's worried about you too." She told him, her fingers brushing trough his brown locks. Then, she pulled back wearing a stern expression, "Remus, stop saying that you don't deserve having friends...I will say again that I don't fully know you, understand you, but it hurts my heart to see a friend hurting."

"That's why...when the day came that you, Remus Lupin reveal yourself, I too will reveal myself to you." She justified and both were silent after that. The young Hufflepuff was about to pull away when he quickly tightened his hold, "Please don't leave me..."

Now, he understands...what he was afraid of all this time, why he is having this conflicted feelings. It was clear to the young girl on what he wants because she gave him a gentle smile. She adjusted her position, so she was sitting next to him on the couch, but his arms were still wrapped around her.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because everyone I care for, always left me."

There was silence, for a second; then, she answered. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving you."

"..."

"You know, I'm kinda envious of Tonks..." Bill commented, his cerulean eyes staring intensely at him. Both of the two boys were in the Great Hall, they had found themselves a sit and were waiting for their Hufflepuff friend.

Remus cocked an eyebrow at that, "Why so?"

His redhead friend shrugged, "I'm envious that whenever something is bothering you, she knows what to do." He stated while he scratched his head, clearly aggravated that he felt useless. "What kind of a friend am I if I couldn't help you."

The young werewolf's forest green orbs widened in astonishment, shaking his head, he clamped his hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Bill, you're always a great friend to me, so stop bothering about it if you can't help me or not. With you by my side is already enough." He proclaimed and a small smile made its way to the redhead's square face.

"Thanks, mate." Remus smiled at him and both of them begun to chat about their potions class. Five minutes later, a familiar face entered the Great Hall. Tonks cheerfully waved at them before sitting down across from the two boys.

She grinned, "Wotcher, what do you think about Professor McGonagall's big announcement today?"

Bill shrugged his shoulders at her, "Hope it isn't extra classes or anything." At his statement Remus beamed at that which the redhead snorted in amusement. The auburn haired boy was about to comment on the reason for the Weasley's amusement when Tonke hushed them.

"She's here." She pointed to the front where their Transfiguration teacher stood. Her noticeable green robes flattered a little bit from her brisk movement when she walked to the center. She coughed loudly, earning everyone's attention.

In a loud voice she announced, "The registration for school clubs will start tomorrow afternoon."

At that, everyone begun to cheer, but stopped when the professor held out her hand. "New clubs are added, pointly muggle clubs, so you can experience what's it like to not used magic."

All muggleborns cheered at that, the same with half bloods, but some pure bloods who disliked anything muggle related frowned at that. However, there were three kids who were sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table who were looking excited.

"Muggle related things!" Bill exclaimed, clearly interested at the new clubs' arrangement. "That sounds cool! I wonder how dad would react if he found out that the school suddenly announced this!"

Remus shook his head, "Muggle huh? I wonder if they added some muggle combat class, a camping club, a swimming club, a research club or..." Nostalgia filled him and he couldn't help, but smiled widely. He was getting excited like Bill at this new clubs.

There was a snort, "Excited are we?" Tonks teased, but it was ineffective since her excitement level was much higher than the two of them.

He smirked, "Yup."

Then, food suddenly appeared on the table and the three of them begun to dine in, along the way they cheerfully chatted about the clubs and tried to guess which muggle club will be added in their school.